I've always known that Kimbo is serious about MMA. He hooked up with a good trainer to start, and he's always shown some respect. Guys just bash him because of his background. It's kind of like Lesnar, except obviously Lesnar is more talented. Only... for some reason... I actually like Kimbo better

The good thing about this is that we'll see guys attempt to take Kimbo down. Nobody paying money under the table to stand up. Let's see how Kimbo's MMA game has developed, not just his boxing.

for real, Kimbo from the start has been very respectfully saying he has to earn his. & who wouldnt cash in on the chance he had

Honestly the guy is 35 years old, he's far too old to be seriously pursuing a meaningful career at this point. It'll be funny to see him on the show but his game is lacking in a hell of a lot of areas and he isn't going to be able to make up those deficits in the short amount of time he has left in his career.

Yes, I realize we have veterans like Hendo and Couture fighting in their late 30's/early-mid 40's but they have a wealth of experience to fall back on to compensate for disadvantages they may encounter as they wear down and younger athletes rise up. And for every Hendo/Couture you have, you also have tons of busted up fighters well past their prime, and Kimbo is approaching this age real quick with not a ton of experience to fall back on.

Props to him for getting some extra coaching through TUF, but you're kidding yourself if you think he's going to make a meaningful run through heavyweight, no matter how terrible the UFC's HW division is.

Man say what you want but im excited!!! I like to be entertained and him being in a house with 15 other guys probably making fun of him for his youtube vids and such...I think its awesome you can hate on Kimbo all ya want but hes maning up and going on the show so I give him props and Dana for allowing him to be on the show after all he's said. This is def. gonna be must watch TV!!!

I can't wait for fighters selection and Rampage ( I can't see Evans taking him) picking Kimbo!!! Kimbo + Rampage/Rashad fued = best season of TUF ever? Probably not but def. a way to get ratings way back up.

This is insane! I respect Kimbo a hell of a lot more now for stepping up like this and fighting in a place where his opponents aren't hand picked for him. It's definitely going to be an entertaining season.

Last edited 6/2/09 2:27AM server time by ThePlagueEdit note/reason: n/a

I should go back to the old elite xc threads and see if the people cheering/making excuses for this move by the UFC thought it was cool when EXC did it. I won't though... I couldn't stand the hypocrisy if I did.

I am glad to see him because it will obviously make the show more popular with a larger audience, and that is good for the sport. It will definitely make things interesting.

Tuvok... if you are still out there buddy... I can help you write the letter if you want. If you would, just go ahead and post a rough draft here and we will proofread it for you before you send it to Dana and give him a piece of your mind.

Tuvok... if you are still out there buddy... I can help you write the letter if you want. If you would, just go ahead and post a rough draft here and we will proofread it for you before you send it to Dana and give him a piece of your mind.

Someone please dust off Sean Gannon and get him on the show. That would make for a great storyline. Sadly I worry that the UFC will gear the show for him to win. Like they did with the Brits this year by leaving good wrestlers off the show. I am very curious as to who the competition will be this year. BTW does anyone else think it would be funny if Kimbo got kicked off the show for fighting in the backyard. LOL I would love to see Dana give him the human cockfighting speech.

Someone please dust off Sean Gannon and get him on the show. That would make for a great storyline. Sadly I worry that the UFC will gear the show for him to win. Like they did with the Brits this year by leaving good wrestlers off the show. I am very curious as to who the competition will be this year. BTW does anyone else think it would be funny if Kimbo got kicked off the show for fighting in the backyard. LOL I would love to see Dana give him the human cockfighting speech.

Do you actually think the UFC cares if the British team wins or not? Like Steve Cofield pointed out, it's a win-win for the UFC. If Kimbo loses, it proves Dana right and if he sticks around for a while it means bigger ratings. I've watched the sport for a long time and I don't think the UFC is in to rigging anything. If they did, there would be much better outcomes for them in a lot of fights.

White said he crossed paths with Kimbo for the first time on Monday as Spike shot the first day of The Ultimate Fighter 10:

"We shot episode one today. We walked into the gym and I tell you what, he was pretty serious. He wasn't messing around, he wasn't joking," laughed White. "He wasn't laughing. I don't think he's a big Dana White fan either. How could you be after all the things that have gone back and forth?"

White also explained that Kimbo's former promoter/manager Gary Shaw had nothing to do with the deal. White indicated that the deal was finished up around May 11 he was down in Miami. Oddly, though Kimbo wasn't present in his hometown, he was actually in California. Apparently, the deal was forged with his manager "Icey" Mike Imber.

Kimbo is getting a bad rap. I believe the guy has only shown respect to the sport.

It isn't his fault that an EliteXC wanted to make him the face of the org.

Bash them. Bash the casual fan who doesn't know diddly squat. Hell, bash his lifestyle, but not him as a fighter.

I just don't get the bashing of these guys. Lesnar, great wrestling backround. Compare that to Jacare who gets more respect? Kimbo seems to truly respect the sport and knows he has a long way to go. Karo doesn't "seem" to know this. Bobby Lashley wants to build his way up.

Seems to me a lot of snobs lurking around.

agree 100%, it pissed me off when mir ripped him like he wouldn't have taken the same big pay day himself, hypocrite.

I say put Junie back in the house with Kimbo for added amusement value! Someone is bound to wind Kimbo up in the house and try and make a name for themselves.I can see Kimbo and Rampage squaring up to each other at some point, threatening some black on black crime!